Okay, so the time has finally arrived. After the years of literal blood, sweat, and tears, the countless hours of study, the student debt, and the ups and downs of life as a nursing student, you’re finally ready to hit the wards and begin your first shift as a newly qualified nurse in the UK.

 

Here in the UK, our NHS (National Health Service) is vastly understaffed, and the demand for nurses has never been greater. Currently, it is estimated that there are more than 758,000 nurses on the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) register, and while the numbers are increasing, there is still a huge demand for nurses.

Before your first shift as a nurse, you’ll no doubt be eager to start, yet you’ll likely find yourself intimidated and nervous. The thing to remember is that as nervous as you are, you’ve been preparing for this moment, and this career, for years. You’ve got this!

To ensure you are indeed ready for life on the wards, here are several helpful tips for newbie nurses in the UK.

 

Ask questions

No matter how well prepared for the first shift you may be, you can’t possibly know everything. In fact, once you get started, it will be painfully obvious just how little you really know about being a nurse, and that’s okay– that’s how we learn.

A good nurse is not afraid to ask questions; in fact, a good nurse should ask questions, as this is how they will learn and better themselves.

Remember, you’re no longer studying at college or university; this is now real life; you have human beings’ health, and even lives, in your hands. Patient safety is your main priority, so don’t be afraid to ask questions, no matter what they may be.

Top Tip – Never guess with patient safety or care!

If you don’t know something about being a nurse, you don’t know. Asking a question to somebody that does know is a great way of finding out what you need to know. It is always better to ask a “silly” question and get an answer than not to ask the question at all and end up making a mistake that could easily have been avoided. Mistakes in some jobs cost money. Mistakes in hospital wards can cost lives. Don’t leave anything to chance. If you’re unsure, just ask.

 

Invest in good footwear

One thing you’ll quickly discover about nursing is just how much of a difference good quality footwear can make and just how much pain your feet will be in if you’re wearing poor quality footwear.

Nurses work long shifts, and the last thing you want while being on your feet for the best part of 12 hours is to find that your feet are causing you pain and discomfort.

Take a look online for shoes designed specifically for nurses. Look for durable, comfortable, and supportive shoes, and don’t scrimp on the price. Seriously, your feet will thank you for it.

 

Stay organised

If you want to make your transition over to being a full-time nurse run smoother than ever, then make sure you’re organised.

What do we mean by this? Basically, make sure you have all of the things that you’re going to need as a nurse without even realising that you need them. Things such as notepads, pens, pencils, paper, key cards, I.Ds, lanyards, and anything that you need on a daily basis while working as a nurse.

 

Learn how to prioritise

As a nurse, you will have to learn how to prioritise very quickly.

Nurses need to learn how to prioritise tasks and, indeed, how to prioritise patients. For example, a patient that is a little bit thirsty but otherwise perfectly healthy should not be prioritised over a patient in an extreme amount of pain that requires pain relief.

Top Tip – Always treat the most serious case first!

Ask other nurses how they prioritise tasks, look for ways of delegating less important tasks, but make sure that all patient needs are met. For example, the patient requiring a drink of water may not be prioritised, but they still need and deserve a drink, so make sure they get what they need once you’ve taken care of the more pressing jobs.

 

Understand that things will get tough

Working in the NHS is considered stressful enough, but working as a nurse that’s considered a particularly high-stress job.

Nursing is often challenging; the hours are long, your feet will hurt, you will encounter difficult patients, and you will have shifts where you question whether it’s the right career path for you.

While we can’t say for certain whether nursing is the perfect career for you, we can comfortably say that it is an enriching career path. As well as lows, there will be plenty of highs, especially when you see what a difference you are making to the lives of your patients and, indeed, to the lives of their loved ones too.

Yes, it’s difficult, stressful, and demanding, but you will have to go a long way to find a career as dynamic and fulfilling as nursing can be! While some nurses may leave to venture other paths, most nurses will tell you they don’t regret training, and they don’t regret the patients that they met along the way. If there’s one certainty in nursing, it’s that you will make a difference in so many lives. Just remember safety first, and work in the best interest of the patient –always!